Panthers — Rampage; Rare Double Vision

Florida lost to the New York Islanders, while the Rampage came up empty against the Rochester Americans. by the exact score.

Two New York teams did the damage to two hockey teams going nowhere this season to extend the oddity.

Both Kevin Dineen and Chuck Weber will, until their dying breath, never admit injuries are doing in this franchise’s ability to field productive teams. But folks, injuries are doing in this franchise’s ability to field productive teams.

For Weber, the current bout of losing has to be extremely galling, since the 3-0 slip up yesterday was the first time in nine games his club has won or lost by more than one goal. Despite all the players coming and going, the Rampage managed to at least be in the games.

Not so much for the Panthers, where the level of play between the NHL and AHL is never more apparent than by watching the Florida Rampage in action.

Yesterday, the Panthers had San Antonio’s own Quinton Howden and Greg Rallo out on the ice with Colby Robak on defense. Howden made a nice takeaway and set up Rallo for a great chance from the slot that went wide, but then the Islanders ran rings around the Panthers at the other end of the ice until former Rampage goaltender Jacob Markstrom could get the puck for a draw.

Really, it looked like the Isles were on the power play!

Just a microcosm of the difference between the leagues right there.

And you’re seeing that here between levels of the AHL and ECHL.

Josh Birkholtz, David Pacan and Garrett Wilson can score double digit goals and assists in the ECHL, they are having difficulty just putting the puck on net here.

If it wasn’t for the acquisition of Jack Combs last week and Evan Barlow the week before, no telling where the Rampage offense would be right now.

When you see the line combinations Weber throws out there and check and see who’s on the other side of the line, makes you wonder how in the world the Rampage can even think playoffs.

(Insert obligatory Jim Mora sound bite here).

With the Panthers, the situation is much more dire.

After a great year last year where they finally got the lack of post-season bear off their necks, the team has suffered from season-ending injuries to Kris Versteeg, Stephen Weiss, and most likely Ed Jovanovski. Then there’s the Jack Skille, George Parros and Mike Weaver injuries and even Rampage players who go up to Florida get nicked up! Eric Selleck has an upper body injury (read concussion) and Michael Caruso broke his wrist. Overall, the Panthers have lost 163 “man games” to injury.

There’s only so much bailing wire available to coaches, folks!

As a result, the Rampage have lost countless “man games” to callup, which, of course, is the nature of the beast in the AHL. But that doesn’t help the reality of what’s been happening on the ice this week.

The Rampage lost third period leads and three straight games. When Abbotsford scored with 10 seconds left last Sunday in a game the Rampage valiantly fought back in to take the lead, that could be the tripwire for the club’s downfall. The Heat were hurting, playing poorly and on the road. Good foe to flog. But the Rampage came out flat (doesn’t that sound all to familiar?). How does that happen?Especially with Roland Ruiz ripping a vocal chord announcing the starting lineups!

Then Tuesday night in that chamber of horrors otherwise known as the Cedar Park Center, the ghosts of losing games past reared it’s ugly head when the Stars scored three times in six minutes in the third period for the 4-3 win. Watching the game at home, the Rampage looked like a new team through 40 minutes, only to suddenly turn into the hockey version of the Washington Generals in the third.

Saturday night against the Barons, San Antonio shooters were accurate if not completely engaged offensively, scoring on two of their first three shots. Unfortunately, having a 2-0 lead for the Rampage this season is almost an albatross, as they seem to immediately start spinning their cocoon and hand over the keys to the car to whichever goaltender is back there to hold onto the lead.

Not a good strategy in a hockey game, when a simple tip, tap or blast can change the momentum and outcome of a game. The Rampage sleepwalked (is that a word?) through the last 50 minutes of the game while Dov Grumet-Morris did his best imitation of a Fiesta Texas arcade shooting target.

Yes, the Rampage have 13 games left.

Yes, the Rampage are eight points behind with some games in hand on some of the four teams tied for 8th with 69 points.

But — there are no “go-to” guys on this team right now.

Zach Hamill is a career set the table guy with a pass first mentality. Greg Rallo is with the big club. Jed Ortmeyer is a third line forward playing on the front line. Jon Rheault has one point in March (assist) due mainly to his recall.

When undrafted rookie Jared Gomes out of the University of Prince Edward Island is your leading scorer this month right now on the roster, your chance of success are greatly diminished.

There are a ton of players with potential waiting in the wings in junior hockey that will make Rampage fans forget the end of this season. But until they get here, most likely next season, it’s gonna be ugly, folks.